2019 Speedway Grand Prix


The 2019 Speedway Grand Prix season was the 25th season of the Speedway Grand Prix era, and decided the 74th FIM Speedway World Championship. It was the nineteenth series under the promotion of Benfield Sports International, an IMG company.
The title was won by Bartosz Zmarzlik, who beat debutant Leon Madsen by two points with Russia's Emil Sayfutdinov finishing third. Zmarzlik became the third Polish world champion after Jerzy Szczakiel won in 1973 and Tomasz Gollob took the title in 2010. Defending champion Tai Woffinden's season was hampered by injury and he finished in 13th place.

2019 changes

Qualifying for each Grand Prix was introduced for the first time in the 2019 season. On the day before the Grand Prix every rider completed a timed lap, with the fastest rider getting to select their position in the draw, followed by second and so on. Matej Žagar was the first ever rider to win a qualifying session when setting the fastest time at the 2019 Speedway Grand Prix of Poland.

Qualification

For the 2019 season there were 15 permanent riders, joined at each Grand Prix by one wild card and two track reserves.
The top eight riders from the 2018 championship qualified automatically. These riders were joined by the three riders who qualified via the Grand Prix Challenge.
The final four riders were nominated by series promoters, Benfield Sports International, following the completion of the 2018 season.
On May 2 Greg Hancock announced he would not be competing in the 2019 season to support his wife's battle with cancer. The FIM and BSI unanimously supported Hancock's withdrawal.

Qualified riders

#Riders2018 placeGP Ch placeAppearancePrevious appearances in series
108 Tai Woffinden18th2010, 2011, 2013–2018
95 Bartosz Zmarzlik24th2012–2015, 2016–2018
66 Fredrik Lindgren310th2004, 2006–2007, 2008–2014, 2016, 2017–2018
71 Maciej Janowski45th2008, 2012, 2014, 2015–2018
45 Greg Hancock525th1995–2018
222 Artem Laguta63rd2011, 2018
69 Jason Doyle75th2015–2018
89 Emil Sayfutdinov88th2009–2013, 2017–2018
692 Patryk Dudek93rd2016, 2017–2018
55 Matej Žagar10159th2003–2005, 2006–2007, 2008–2009, 2011, 2013–2018
54 Martin Vaculík134th2012, 2013, 2017–2018
333 Janusz Kołodziej12nd2006, 2010, 2011
88 Niels-Kristian Iversen1428th2004–2005, 2006, 2008, 2009–2010, 2013–2017, 2018
85 Antonio Lindbäck39th2004, 2005–2007, 2009–2010, 2011–2013, 2015, 2016–2017
30 Leon Madsen1st2013

Qualified substitutes

The following riders were nominated as substitutes:
#Riders2018 placeGP Ch place
505 Robert Lambert305
46 Max Fricke187
155 Mikkel Michelsen29
225 Václav Milík Jr.1711
115 Bartosz Smektała26

Calendar

The 2019 season consisted of 10 events, the same number as in 2018.

Final Classification